First off, I officially finished my first mission journal. No big deal but... its a pretty big deal. :P Here goes the weekly rundown:
Monday: We bought a cheap white board for our apartment! We put that up, and then I cut out several inspirational pictures from the Ensign and put them up on the walls. I also put up the picture of the yegua. Now all missionaries who live in Caldwell will be aware of them :P Then we just kind of chilled at our apartment until it was time to go do laundry at the Mitchells, and eat dinner. We had yummy Navajo tacos. They were pretty great.
Tuesday: We couldn't find ANYBODY. Obviously we were looking for the wrong people. We were driving on all these dirt and gravel roads, and one time a road covered in sand. Good thing we had Antonio! It was quite an adventure. We finally decided to find this one lady named Vicky. She is AWESOME! She breeds Persian cats, and has a huge habitat built for them in her backyard. No big deal. The house they live in was built in WWI times, and needs a bit of fixing up. So, of course, we offered to help with that! She told us to come over for dinner any time because her son-in-law (who's family is living with them) is a great cook, and so is she! PLUS her son-in-law speaks Portuguese, and so I could practice the language! Vicky can pretty much do anything and everything under the sun. After her, we ate dinner at Jan's house. She is just so adorable, and she too is a very good cook.
Wednesday: I went on exchanges, and the first thing we did was have a moment of silence in memory of September 11. I'll never forget what happened that day. I love this country!
For exchanges, I went to College Station with Sister Newhouse. We got along pretty well, and visited a lot of people.
Thursday: Weekly planning... YAY! Hopefully we can build up our investigator pool.. which is now at ONE because Sister Jones taught a member present lesson on exchanges! Her name is Marsha, and apparently she is golden. I cannot WAIT to meet her! We also got TWO MORE referrals to contact! Hopefully we will be able to meet them this week.
Friday: THE THIRTEENTH!! D: *Gasp* No wonder it wasn't the best day :P Okay, our day was actually pretty good. So we went to District Meeting, which was pretty entertaining. I have some very interesting elders in my district. We had some awesome food for lunch, though. One of them is basically a master chef. He made pasta salad, unlike any pasta salad I have ever seen before. It did not even taste like pasta salad. I'm pretty sure it was just cold pasta. But whatever he wanted to call it... And jalapeno hot dogs. And ice cream. And pie. And chips. Don't worry, it was just a miniature feast. Also, today Sis Jones wrote something I said into her journal because, apparently, it was hilarious. I don't exactly remember the conversation, but here's what she wrote down (that I said); "I don't usually go traipsing through the getto, saying 'I'm going to make a friend today!'" She almost died laughing.
Snippet from my journal about the batismo; "SO STOKED!!!!!! I. CAN'T. WAIT!"
SATURDAY: So, we went to Caldwell's famous kolache festival. Its a huge deal, and a good way to get out there in the community so people will start recognizing us. We hung out with the branch mission leader and his wife, and their son. I did indeed eat a kolache, and it was good. Not as good as the sausage kolaches that I've had before, but still yummy. They had a "world famous" band playing at the festival called the Shiner Hobo Band. I'm sure you have all heard of this band. Who hasn't? Then, we went with Jason and Grace (branch mission leader and wife) to see the beagle puppy they will be getting in a few weeks!! IT WAS SO PRECIOUS. Definitely not as cute as Scooter, but a close 2nd. Its eyes still weren't open yet!! We got to know the people who bred the puppy pretty well, and I threw a basketball with their 3 year old son. Even though it wasn't really religious, I think it was good for them to meet us and to see that we're normal people too. Maybe we can go with Grace and Jason when they see the puppy again!
Then, we left for the hour and a half ride to the BATISMO! I almost had a heart attack on the way there. I just felt like I should check the phone, so I did and we had a message from the Montgomery sisters. They said they had some not so good news. Derrick backed out of being baptized because he felt that he wasn't ready, and because he smoked a cigarette. My heart dropped. But, they said Brian was still going to get baptized so onward we drove. Sister Jones started crying in the car as we passed through Montgomery to get to the baptism because Montgomery was her first area as well! We finally got to the church building, and everyone was really glad to see Sis Jones and I :D I was reunited with my old companions, and they told me I was giving the closing prayer and bearing my testimony. Brian was super happy to see me there, and super surprised! He was just really happy the whole time. The recent RM that's been going to their lessons baptized him. Chera (Brian's mom) and her ex-husband (Brian's dad) and Brian's grandpa all came to the batismo! Chera cried almost the whole time. I know she felt the Spirit. Apparently she also finally sat in on one of the lessons! And has been reading the Book of Mormon! Derrick didn't come to the baptism. There was another baptism scheduled at the same time, so we had to wait for them to go to the font before we could start. It was fun to see and talk with everyone beforehand. Then, we finally started and had some lovely talks. Finally, the moment arrived. We all walked into the baptismal font room and I almost lost it when I saw Brian and Jon (the RM) get into the water. It was beautiful. Brian got baptized and I was just so happy. It was beautiful. We all went back to the chapel while they were changing, and the missionaries in our district all got up and bore testimony. As I got up to bear mine, Brian and Jon walked in. So I was able to direct it a little more towards Brian. He paid attention to everything that was going on. It was awesome. Afterwards, I was able to talk to him and I told him that he had to be strong, and that he couldn't give up on this. He said, "Yeah, I won't give up." It was awesome. Then, Chera talked to me and said "I'm glad to see that you're doing well, and I truly mean that. I wish you the best!" It was so sweet. I think she's finally opening up a bit.
We tried to visit Derrick after the baptism so I could give him some words of encouragement, but to no avail. It just wasn't the right timing. But, I am going to try and send him a letter soon so that I can do so. Even though I was devastated that Derrick backed out, I know that he will be baptized and that it will happen for him. Its not about my timing, its about the Lord's timing.
That experience was amazing. I know I don't mention it a lot, but there are times when the mission is really hard and I get really discouraged and I wonder why in the world I am here in Texas. Then, miracles happen and everything is so much better. Its like... the good parts are so good that the bad parts don't even matter anymore. The good is so much better than the bad. And Brian's baptism reminded me of the whole reason I'm here.
It's all worth it to see someone in white, taking the first step that will change their life forever. It truly is.
 |
| Sister Shell, Sister Elliott, Brian, and Sister Kyles |
Y'all, I love this gospel and I love being a missionary! Alma 36:25-26 "Yea, and now behold, O my son, the Lord doth give me exceedingly great joy in the fruit of my labors; For because of the word which he has imparted unto me, behold, many have been born of God, and have tasted as I have tasted, and have seen eye to eye as I have seen; therefore they do know of these things of which I have spoken, as I do know; and the knowledge which I have is of God." Right now, only a few have "tasted as I have tasted" but more will come. My mission is just starting. There are so many more people the Lord wants to hear the gospel.
And they will hear, and they will taste as I have tasted :)
love,
Sister Shell
No comments:
Post a Comment